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read.me
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1987-12-28
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Floppy Almanac
U. S. Naval Observatory
Nautical Almanac Office
Version 2.11.88
A problem with an assembly language routine that clears the screen
has been fixed in this version. This was only a problem with certain
IBM-PC's. We are still not sure why it fails to work on these machines.
The fix involves not clearing the screen and does not affect the
output accuracy. In future versions the assembly language routine
will be replaced with one that works on all machines. Until that
version is released the output will continuously scroll. There is now
an option to ask for times of twilight when you compute Rise, Set, and
Transit times for the Sun.
The simplification that was introduced in the marketing of the Floppy
Almanac is working well. The single versions of the Floppy Almanac
which test for an 8087 coprocessor and use it, if one is available,
has simplified things greatly on our end and the user end.
The original reason for two versions was to maximize computational
speed. The effect of using a generalized version will be a slight
loss of speed, but an enormous reduction in confusion over ordering
the correct version.
The requirements for running this version of the Floppy Almanac remain
the same as the previous editions; IBM PC or clone with 256k RAM
running MS DOS 3.0 or higher. There are 8 files on this disk.
They are:
FA88.EXE
STAR1.CAT
RADIO1.CAT
MESSIER.CAT
FA.IN
CATALOG.EXE
SAMPLE.TXT
READ.ME
The first file in the list is the executable file comprising the
Floppy Almanac, and is the only essential file. It is executed by
simply typing the first four characters, that is, FA88 (or fa88 )
for the 1988 Floppy Almanac. The file will then be loaded into
memory (this takes about 10 seconds), after which the Floppy Almanac
masthead will scroll onto the screen followed by the main menu.
The Floppy Almanac is completely self-contained, and once the main
menu appears the disk can be removed from the drive; no further disk
reads are required for standard execution.
The other files on the disk are auxiliary files, which are not used
by most applications. Most of these files relate to the optional
facility for redefining the star catalog to be used by the Floppy
Almanac.
The file named SAMPLE.TXT is a small sample of a formatted star catalog
to be used as a model for creating other catalogs. It is unchanged in
content from previous editions of the Floppy Almanac, but has been
renamed in order to prevent confusion with the unformatted catalogs.
The large star catalog, STAR1.CAT, is now the true FK5 catalog. It
contains the same stars and the is in the same order as the STAR1.CAT
file on previous editions.
Since the Floppy Almanac is menu- and prompt-driven, the novice user
can usually "feel" his way around its various options and obtain
useful information. One can become fairly proficient in using the
Floppy Almanac simply through a series of trial-and-error runs.
Nevertheless, there is a significant amount of information about how
the Floppy Almanac works which is not obvious but which is quite
important for all but the most casual user. This information is
contained in the paper documentation distributed by the Naval
Observatory with each Floppy Almanac disk.
The Floppy Almanac is in the public domain; therefore, no copy
restrictions apply. Your copy may not have originated at the Naval
Observatory, and you may therefore wish to obtain either the paper
documentation or another version of the Floppy Almanac. You may use
the order form below.
If you have any problems with the software running on your machine
please express it in the form of a letter and give us as many details
as possible about your hardware, software, and any other pertinent
information about the problem. We also need to know the version
of the software that you are running. Please include your
mailing address and a daytime telephone number where you may be
reached.
We hope you find the Floppy Almanac useful.
Nautical Almanac Office
Code FA
U. S. Naval Observatory
Washington, DC 20392
----------------------------------------------------------------------
F L O P P Y A L M A N A C Mail to: Nautical Almanac Office
------- Code FA
O R D E R F O R M U. S. Naval Observatory
Washington, DC 20392
Each Floppy Almanac disk is $20, and includes one copy of the paper
documentation. Additional disks on the same order may be purchased
for $10. Additional copies of the documentation may be ordered
for $4 each. Please enclose full payment, BY CHECK ONLY, with this
order. Make checks payable to "U. S. Naval Observatory".
Please indicate the quantity ordered in the boxes:
1988 1989
----- ----- Floppy Almanac
| | | | 5-1/4 inch DS/DD MS-DOS disk,
----- ----- with documentation ($20 first)
($10 each additional disk)
----- ----- Floppy Almanac
| | | | 3-1/2 inch DS MS-DOS disk,
----- ----- with documentation ($20 each)
($10 each additional disk)
----- Floppy Almanac 1.4V, for DEC VAX and MicroVAX II,
| | on 5-1/4 inch 400k RX50 disk
----- ($20 each)
----- Floppy Almanac 1.4I, for IBM 370, 43xx, 30xx,
| | on 9-track 1600 bpi computer tape, VM/CMS format
----- covers 1980 - 2000 ($25 each)
- - - - - - - - -
----- Additional copy of paper documentation for
| | MS-DOS versions of Floppy Almanac
----- ($4 per copy)
Amount of check enclosed: $ _________________
Name: ______________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
City & state: ____________________________________ Zip: ___________
Country (if not U.S.): ___________________________